Pachycentria spec.

This extraordinary member of the Melastomataceae family originates from Southeast Asia. Pachycentria are epiphytic and often grow on other epiphytes, especially other ant-loving plants (e.g., Hydnophytum ). As they mature, they develop thick, woody adventitious roots with bladder-like swellings up to 3 cm in diameter, which are inhabited by ants.

Pachycentria are closely associated with certain ant species. They form so-called " ant gardens ," together with other myrmecophytic plants and ants from the genera Camponotus , Philidris , and Cremtogaster . In these gardens, the plants provide the ants with a home, feed them, and allow them to disperse their seeds. The defensive ants protect the plants. In nature, Pachycentria appears to grow only in such ant gardens. Don't worry, they can easily be cultivated without ants.

This species is a small, epiphytic shrub with many drooping, creeping, or upright branches and adventitious roots. The leaves grow up to 10 cm long and are thick and succulent. The species offered here has significantly larger leaves and fruits than the more commonly offered Pachycentria glauca .

You will receive a young plant in a 7cm pot. These young plants do not yet have thickened roots. They will only develop these after 2 to 3 years with proper care.